How do I paint my frame?

What kind of paint should I use to colour the frame of my bike red? What is the process?

Thanks !!!!

 

take everything off the frame sand and de-rust it prime and sand it paint and sand paint again and clear coat it

i would use enamel... but that me

 

You can use shaker cans' or if you have a spray gun, Eastwoods has some nice paints that would work nice.

You could also send it out to get powder coated.

 

powder coating = $$$ but it looks great

 

All depends on how and what kind of job Apato is doing. If you could let us know what your up to as far as mods and project scope.


You can look up what some of the other guys have done as far as ground up work. Be sure to look that frame over good. Look for rust and spider cracks around those welds by the swing arm mounts.

 

OK, so I've decided to do powder coating myself, with an Eastwoods kit. Does anyone know how to make a kiln on the cheap that's big enough to house a frame?

 

Cool, Not sure how you would bake the frame yourself though

 

I'm thinking two bath tubs, one on top of the other over a bed of hot coals.

 

Wait 'til Zookie gets done cooking Holiday turkeys in his? Seriously, though...call around. Powder coating doesn't have to be that expensive. I'll bet you can get it done for about what you are going to spend on the kit.

 

I see what you're saying, bigfitz, but I've got three bikes to do and lots of other things around the farm that would look good powder coated. The logistics of getting a couple of bathtubs and a big fire going is not that complicated where I live up here in Canada. Besides, I have many months before I can even test ride them, given all this damn snow.

 

I appreciate the comment about spider cracks and rust. Upon further inspection I noticed that the dumbass who owned the bike before me cut a u-shaped gouge in the frame near the steering head. It looks like he wanted easier access to a bolt.

 

I've never painted a frame (yet) but from what I've seen, spend a couple hours and smooth all visible welds, and that doesn't mean grind them off, just knock down the high points, then fill the low spots with JB-Weld and flare and fill. I would paint the frame a darker version of the body color.

For a home brew oven? how about picking up 2 discarded ovens and some roofing sheet metal, some pop rivets, some insulation, a saws-all, get the picture? It would even have temp control.

 

apato, leave it to the experts, I just feel a disaster coming. Wiz.
I was in Edmonton 30 years ago, & October came around & the sky went black & I got back on the boat. 40 below & I don't give a f... not me.

 

I gotta agree with Wiz, I don't think you're gonna get nice even controlled heating with two bathtubs and a fire. Also; consider this about powder coating: It can and does chip, and fixing the chips means re-baking unless you just use paint. You might want to consider painting the frame, it's much easier to touch up.

 

I cant find it, but someone mentioned awhile back on another painting thread about some high quality rattle can paint? Am I imagining it...or is there such an animal?

 

yep, they live in the zoo and in the wilderness
you have more luck seeing them in the zoo though

i think your talking about enamel(most rattle can paint)
acrylic(i don't know much about)
latex (water based)
lacquer(awesome if ou have the time to do it, not worth it on the frame)
powder coat(great finish but chips)
anodize (not sure if you can anodize steel or not)

 

Apato632...cmon dude...this is the internet age. Just google what you want to know and VIOLA..there's the answer
http://forum.caswellplating.com/oven-building-forum/
That's a forum on building home powder coating ovens on the cheap.
I ws kicking around the idea of building one this winter, but since I got laid off last week that project is on hold....
Good luck and keep us updated with pics!!

 

That might have been me; PJ1 has "Epoxy Frame Paint" in a rattle can that is tough as nails once it's dry. I've used it for frame touch-up and repainting detail parts with very good results. It is a bit expensive IIRC.

 

Paint shops will make up rattle cans & the quality is usually better.

 

PJ1 has my vote. Very durable and reasonably priced.

 

PJ1 epoxy paint doesn't come in red.

 

Hmm... I can't have the powder coating on my frame chipping.

So I guess what I'm looking for now is an epoxy paint similar to that of PJ1's epoxy frame paint that comes in red. Any suggestions?

 

Oh yes and someone was asking about resources: I have a paint gun, air compressor, sand-blaster and small chamber. Probably going to buy the Eastwoods powder coating kit and I have an old oven I can use for smaller parts.

 

Go to the paint shop. Get primer and some nice red paint and shoot it on the frame. Epoxy paint and primer is tough as nails and available at paint supply houses. You have everythying you need to get a nice red frame without having to build a giant kiln. Go with what's cheapest AND easiest. You even have the sand blaster to get it down to the metal to ensure it sticks around for awhile.

 

I recently painted my carbs hats with Rust-O-Leum Blue Metallic. I did the test with an old hat and once the paint dried it was not easy to make a scratch on it.
$5.00 a can at Walmart